Demetrius Ypsilantis
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| Demetrius Ypsilantis Δημήτριος Υψηλάντης |
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| 1793 – 1832 | |
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| Place of birth | Romania |
| Place of death | Vienna, Austria |
| Allegiance | Russia Greece |
| Years of service | 1814-1832 |
| Commands held | Eastern Greece |
| Battles/wars | Defense of Castro Larissa at Argos, Battle at the Pass of Petra |
Demetrios Ypsilantis, sometimes spelled Ypsilanti, in Greek, Δημήτριος Υψηλάντης (1793 - January 3, 1832), was the second son of Prince Constantine Ypsilantis and a Greek War of Independence hero. He distinguished himself as a Russian officer in the campaign of 1814, and in the spring of 1821, went to the Morea, where the Greek War of Independence had just broken out. He was also the brother of Alexander Ypsilantis.
He was one of the most conspicuous of the Phanariot leaders during the earlier stages of the revolt, though he was much hampered by the local chiefs and by the civilian element headed by Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos. In 15 January 1822, he was elected president of the legislative assembly; but the ill-success of his campaign in central Greece, and his failure to obtain a commanding position in the national convention of Astros, led to his retirement early in 1823. In 1828, he was appointed by Capo d'Istria commander of the troops in East Hellas. He succeeded, on the 25 September 1829, in forcing the Turkish commander Aslan Bey to sign a capitulation at the Pass of Petra, which ended the active operations of the war.
He died at Vienna on January 3, 1832 and was known for his affair with Manto Mavrogenous. The city of Ypsilanti, Michigan in the United States of America is named after him. A bust of Demetrius Ypsilanti stands between a Greek and a US flag at the base of the landmark Ypsilanti Water Tower.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
